- US jobless claims tick up to 200,000 but remain low by historic standards
Source: ABC News
“More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but jobless claims remain at historically low levels, layoffs are rare and most workers enjoy unusual job security. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims ticked up to 200,000 last week from a revised 191,000 the week before, coming in higher than the 195,000 economists had forecast. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, was unchanged at 195,250. Applications for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them closely because they can provide signs of where the job market is headed.” (11/12/26)
https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/us-jobless-claims-tick-200000-remain-low-historic-138076988
- China: Xi rattles saber for “reunification” with Taiwan, which have never been part of People’s Republic
Source: Deutsche Welle [German state media]
“Chinese President Xi Jinping has renewed his calls for ‘reunification’ with Taiwanbut refrained from mentioning the use of force. ‘The historical trends are unstoppable. The complete reunification of our motherland must be realized, and it can, without doubt, be realized,’ Xi said on Thursday. His comments came in a speech marking the 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, the political leader who helped lead the 1911 revolution that overthrew China’s imperial dynasty and led to the founding the Republic of China. The Taiwanese government swiftly rebuffed the remarks, saying the territory would not accept submitting to the rule of China’s Communist Party.” [edtor’s note: The last time Taiwan was ruled from mainland Chinaq was 16 years before the 1911 revolution and 54 years before the establishment of the current mainland regime – TLK] (11/12/26)
https://www.dw.com/en/china-taiwan-xi-jinping-reunification/a-79929738
- Trump regime will fund new research on ibogaine
Source: Caledonian Record
“Federal officials on Thursday announced new funding to explore the medical potential of ibogaine, a controversial psychedelic drug championed by veterans, conservative lawmakers and podcasters aligned with President Donald Trump. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his department is awarding up to $4.9 million to prepare for the first U.S. studies of ibogaine for post-traumatic stress disorder, a hard-to-treat condition linked to higher suicide and substance abuse rates among veterans. The money will not go directly to patient research, Kennedy said, but to lay the groundwork needed to manufacture, dose and design studies of the drug.” (11/12/26)
- Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia CEO
Source: Semafor
“Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigned from the chipmaker on Thursday, sending shares down 7% and capping a whirlwind week that cast a pall over what was once the most valuable company in the world. The chipmaker’s CFO Colette Kress will serve as interim CEO, while the board conducts a search for a permanent successor, looking at both internal and external candidates, the company said Thursday. … Huang’s ouster came less than a week after he admitted to an affair with a suspected Chinese spy; on Wednesday, multiple media reports detailed that Huang had another extramarital affair with a subordinate, leaving his position untenable at the company he founded 33 years ago.” (11/12/26)
https://www.semafor.com/article/11/12/2026/jensen-huang-resigns-as-nvidia-ceo
- Ireland faces pressure to stop sending Russia an ingredient vital to its war on Ukraine
Source: Associated Press
“The Karin, a 400-foot-long (120-meter-long) cargo ship, sat moored this week on Ireland’s boggy River Shannon estuary. Soon it set sail for Russia laden with a white powder that can be forged into weapons vital to Moscow’s war on Ukraine. Alumina, the key ingredient in aluminum, goes into everything from toothpaste and lipstick to missiles and drones. A Russian-owned plant in southern Ireland is Europe’s biggest alumina refinery and regularly sends shiploads of the substance directly to St. Petersburg and other Russian ports. … Ireland faced calls to stop the shipments as dozens of European leaders gathered in Dublin this week to discuss support for Ukraine. A summit of the 47-nation European Political Community on Thursday is being followed Friday by a meeting of European Union leaders.” (11/12/26)
- Trump threatens to hike taxes on Amerians over “migrant invasion”
Source: India Today [India]
“US President Donald Trump has threatened to immediately double tariffs on [American buyers of goods from] Mexico unless the country stops what he described as large migrant caravans moving towards the US border, escalating his post-midterm confrontation with Mexico. In a sharply worded post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump claimed that a new ‘invasion’ was underway after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the US midterm elections. He argued that large groups of migrants were forming and travelling through Mexico towards the United States.” (11/12/26)
- Palestine: Israeli troops murder six, including surgeon, in Gaza hospital attack
Source: CBC Newss [UK state media]
“An Israeli airstrike on southern Gaza’s main hospital overnight killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon and a teenage boy, medics said, the latest Israeli attack to undermine a year-old ceasefire in the war-shattered territory. The strike hit a building containing surgery wards at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Israel’s military said it targeted a senior Hamas commander and accused the militants of using the hospital complex to plan attacks, which the group denied. Medics and witnesses said two missiles crashed through the roof of the five-storey building, causing extensive damage. The surgery department, which serves half of Gaza’s two million people, was knocked out of service. Twenty others were wounded.” (11/12/26)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israeli-strike-on-gaza-hospital-kills-six-people-9.7418729
- Ukraine says military Starlink disrupted again as US envoys meet Putin in Moscow
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine’s military is again facing ‘systematic’ restrictions to Starlink’s military-grade satellite service, Starshield, meaning Kyiv is struggling to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. It came as US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, a day after the latest talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine wrapped up in Abu Dhabi. Zelensky told European leaders in Dublin that Ukraine was trying to clear up the Starlink situation with the American side. But, he added, ‘some things’ were already clear: ‘If someone in America is making decisions that basically treat Ukrainian territory as if it is not Ukrainian, then this tells us where things are going.’ He did not elaborate further.” (11/12/26)
- Trump administration proposes new SNAP limits
Source: mLive
“President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to make it harder to get food aid through the federal government’s big grocery assistance program that serves about 1 in 10 Americans. The administration says the proposed rule would close a loophole by no longer allowing some people who receive benefits under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to automatically qualify for the separate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program too. About 6.3 million people could lose eligibility for SNAP by the 2029 fiscal year if the proposed change takes effect, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program. That is on top of 5.5 million people who already have lost SNAP benefits over the past year. The plan is laid out in a proposed rule published Tuesday on how to run SNAP, and the government is seeking public comment until next month.” (11/12/26)
- UK: London court finds two Iranian men guilty of spying for Tehran
Source: ABC News
“Two Iranian men who spied on journalists working for a Persian-language broadcaster in London were found guilty Thursday of spying for Tehran. Jurors at Woolwich Crown Court in south London found Mostafa Sepahvand, 41 and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, to be working on behalf of the Iranian state and convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service. A third defendant, Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 57, was acquitted of all offenses against him. … The defendants were accused of visiting addresses linked to their targets, taking photos and videos, and using platforms such as ChatGPT to research them online.” (11/12/26)
https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/london-court-finds-2-iranian-men-guilty-spying-138075096
- ICE gang abductions, deportations hit record high
Source: CBS News
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported a record 483,200 people in fiscal year 2026, according to new Department of Homeland Security figures obtained by CBS News, marking a historic escalation in President Trump’s signature immigration crackdown, even as voters grapple with the increase in interior enforcement. … ICE also reported more than 491,000 immigration [abductions] during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, including nearly 475,000 administrative [abductions] — another record, according to DHS.” (11/12/26)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-deportations-arrests-hit-record-high/
- Russia: Car Bomb Kills Soldier Near St Petersburg in Latest Targeted Assassination
Source: US News & World Report
“A Russian military serviceman was killed after the car he was driving was blown up in the Pushkinsky District of St Petersburg, investigators said in Thursday. ‘Investigative authorities have opened a criminal case into the murder of a member of the armed forces,’ a statement from Russia’s Investigative Committee said. Video showed that military police had sealed off the area as investigators and forensic scientists worked at the scene. A bomb-damaged dark blue SUV with its doors, boot and bonnet open stood on a road littered with blast debris next to what looked like an empty passenger bus which appeared to have also suffered damage. Russia has blamed Ukraine for previous assassinations of senior military officials and people linked to Moscow’s war effort.” (11/12/26)
- As Top Dems Waver, Van Hollen and Khanna Work to Axe Funds for Iran War
Source: Common Dreams
“As leading Democrats express hesitation about using an upcoming fight over government funding to cut off money for President Donald Trump’s illegal Iran war, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Ro Khanna are pushing their party to act boldly against a conflict that spurred massive backlash against the GOP at the ballot box last week. The Washington Sun reported Wednesday that Van Hollen (D-MD) and Khanna’s (D-CA) call for Democrats to withhold their support for any government funding package unless it excludes money for the Iran war is ‘hitting resistance from senior members of the party’. The outlet cited several top Democrats, including Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, and other lawmakers who have voiced skepticism about potentially sparking a government shutdown over war funding just weeks after the midterms.” (11/12/26)
https://www.commondreams.org/news/van-hollen-khanna-iran-war-funding
- FL: City says new GOP-backed DEI law blocks St Patrick’s parade, Pride event
Source: Fox News
“A Florida city says it cannot host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade or Pride event in 2027 because of a new Republican-backed state law restricting local governments from funding, promoting or taking official action related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Officials in Delray Beach announced the decision Tuesday, citing restrictions on ‘certain programming and activities designed or implemented with reference to ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.’ … The law prohibits counties and municipalities from funding or promoting DEI initiatives, directly or indirectly, or taking certain official actions related to them, including adopting ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs or policies.” (11/12/26)
- European city regimes demand total EU ban on cigarette filters
Source: Politico
“Major cities across Europe are calling on the EU to ban the sale of filters in cigarettes, saying the plastic-based stubs have no health benefits and are the single biggest cause of urban litter. Brussels, Munich, Dublin and Genoa are among the city governments that have joined the No (Plastic) Filter campaign, an initiative driven by the Dutch government, along with local municipalities, water authorities and green groups. They argue that the EU’s ‘extended producer responsibility’ schemes — rules requiring tobacco companies to pay for cleanup — have failed to curb pollution from cigarette filters and that an outright ban is needed.” (11/12/26)
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-cities-demand-total-eu-ban-cigarette-filters
- Pope tells Peru bishops to accompany their flocks & respond to abuse victims with truth, justice
Source: SFGate
“After his emotional homecoming, Pope Leo XIV got down to work Thursday telling Peru’s Catholic bishops to accompany their flocks as they face poverty and injustices, and respond to victims of clergy sexual abuse with truth, justice and amends. Leo made it clear he knows the Peruvian church and people well in his opening events in Lima, identifying some of the biggest challenges facing them and calling the influential Catholic hierarchy especially to task to be models of unity and communion. Peruvians turned out in droves to catch a glimpse of Leo, with crowds outside the church residence where he is staying and an even bigger gathering at the central Plaza Mayor where he had his first events Thursday. Leo thrilled them by looping around the plaza in his popemobile.” (11/12/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/pope-leo-gets-down-to-business-in-peru-after-22526949.php
- US attorney demands Blumenthal preserve ballroom probe documents
Source: United Press International
“A U.S. attorney with the Justice Department demanded that Sen. Richard Blumenthal preserve all documents concerning his investigation into potential conflicts of interest stemming from the Trump administration’s drive for private donations to construct the White House ballroom, accusing the Connecticut Democrat of threatening American citizens for associating with President Donald Trump. ‘In recent weeks, you have threatened citizens for associating themselves with the president and other public officials. Yet, the ‘freedom to engage in association for the advancement of beliefs and ideas is an inseparable aspect’ of our Constitution and way of life,’ U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz of the Southern District of Texas said in a Wednesday letter addressed to Blumenthal.” (11/12/26)
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/11/12/DOJ-Blumenthal-ballroom-project/5111794462530/
- Indonesia: Vice president resigns amid dispute over eligibility
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“Indonesia’s vice president has resigned in the midst of a scandal over his high school diploma, adding pressure on a government facing widespread dissatisfaction over the economy, corruption and wildfires. Gibran Rakabuming Raka submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto and parliament on Thursday, the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly told reporters. … Under Indonesia’s Constitution, a vice presidential vacancy does not trigger a new election. The office remains vacant until the People’s Consultative Assembly elects a replacement from two candidates nominated by the president within 60 days.” (11/12/26)
- Annual Fundraiser: The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves
THANK YOU to subscribing contributor BT, whose $2.50 monthly donation yesterday saved us from a “zero-dollar day” and brings our annual fundraister total to (as of 5am) $1,289.50!
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That URL again:
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Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily - Massie forces new Epstein files showdown
Source: Axios
“Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) secured the 218 signatures needed to force another House showdown over the Jeffrey Epstein files Wednesday, just one day after fellow Republicans blocked his attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Congress overwhelmingly voted last year to force the release of the Epstein files, but survivors and lawmakers say the Trump administration has still withheld records. The new bill would give them the power to sue the DOJ and help state prosecutors pursue investigations. Massie announced Wednesday afternoon that his discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II had reached the required 218 signatures. … Massie’s petition is expected to become eligible for a floor vote by early December, with more than enough legislative days remaining under the House’s current schedule.” (11/11/26)
https://www.axios.com/2026/11/11/massie-epstein-files-second-vote
- Seattle Mayor & School Board Push Legal Action to Block State Referendum on Transgender Athletes
Source: Jonathan Turley
by Jonathan Turley“Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced that she and the city would back the Seattle School Board’s unanimous vote to begin legal action to block enforcement of Initiative 638, which requires separating boys and girls in K-12 sports in Washington state. Voters overwhelmingly approved the initiative in 36 of the state’s 39 counties. Critics have charged that Wilson and other Seattle Democrats are seeking to negate the popular vote after campaigning on ‘saving democracy’. The greater challenge, however, is the legal basis for such an action in light of recent Supreme Court rulings.” (11/12/26)
- Let Optometrists Wield Lasers
Source: Reason
by Jeffrey A Singer“Alberta joins 17 U.S. states that have given trained optometrists the green light to perform certain advanced procedures, giving patients more eye care options.” (11/12/26)
https://reason.com/2026/11/12/let-optometrists-wield-lasers/
- Brave New Presidential Contest
Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob“For years, states have been joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The compact commits these states to award all their Electoral College presidential votes to the winner of the popular vote nationwide, even if a majority of their own state voters choose a different candidate. It kicks in once enough states sign up to equal the 270 Electoral College votes required to win the presidency. … Once we elect the president purely on the total vote nationally, will sanctuary state California give the nearly five million non-citizens living there the vote for president? Those additional voters would constitute about two percent of the electorate in the entire country.” (11/12/26)
https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/11/12/brave-new-presidential-contest/
- So Far, AI Pessimism is Observationally Equivalent to AI Pessimism
Source: Bet On It
by Bryan Caplan“AI pessimists’ most powerful debating point is that, unlike normies, they foresaw the future. Back when AI was embarrassingly dumb, AI pessimists warned that it would rapidly improve. And rapidly improve it did. … Given the pessimists’ foresight and my confessed lack thereof, there is a strong reason to consider them to be more reliable than yours truly on the subject of AI. I freely concede that. But AI pessimists plus Bryan Caplan are not the only people in world. Most notably, there have long been AI optimists. They too foresaw the future back when AI was embarrassingly dumb.” (11/12/26)
https://www.betonit.ai/p/so-far-ai-pessimism-is-observationally
- AI Company Employees Should Unionize
Source: Astral Codex Ten
by Scott Alexander“You may remember stories of bitter unionization battles at places like Starbucks, but AI workers can probably route around that. The toughest labor disputes happen in fields where the employer could easily fire all the organized workers and replace them from a bottomless pool of faceless scabs: although this is illegal, everyone needs to be maximally lawyered-up to prevent it. But there are so few skilled AI researchers that these laws are hardly necessary; if a dozen top AI researchers threaten to walk, it doesn’t matter whether Section P Sub-Section Q forces the AI company to negotiate – the AI company will want to negotiate.” (11/12/26)
https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/ai-company-employees-should-unionize
- Bidens trying to brainwash everyone, but we all know their scandal-plagued truth
Source: New York Post
by Miranda Devine“You may have thought it was a headline from the Babylon Bee: Hunter Biden Honored for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Public Discourse’ from prestigious Trinity College Dublin. But it was true. Hunter Biden, the 56-year-old reformed crack and prostitute connoisseur of ‘Laptop from Hell’ fame, visited his ancestral land to be so honored on Tuesday, accompanied by his suddenly compos mentis father, Joe, the former president. A Secret Service cavalcade of seven vehicles chauffeured Hunter and Joe to the university from Dublin’s finest five-star luxury Merrion hotel. We were told that Joe wiped tears from his eyes as his son, fully dressed, accepted Trinity’s gold medal for contributions to society amid glowing accolades from Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who posted photos of their meeting on social media.” (11/11/26)
- Scharf’s Pseudoconstitutional Barf
Source: Liberal Currents
by Adam Gurri“The administration sent a threatening letter to Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, over public comments he made about holding the administration accountable. Garcia shared the full contents of the letter publicly and said he would not be deterred. In relating the above I am not talking about the events of this week. I am talking about February of last year, when then interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin sent a letter to Garcia over the latter’s statements on CNN about opposing Elon Musk and DOGE …. Garcia was not intimidated at that time …. Garcia was even less impressed by White House counsel Will Scharf’s threatening letter this week, coming as it does when Garcia is preparing to step into leadership of the House Oversight Committee after a historic crushing of the Republican Party at the ballot box last week.” (11/12/26)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/scharfs-pseudoconstitutional-barf/
- Bernie Sanders Would Make Social Security Bigger and America Poorer
Source: The Daily Economy
by Romina Boccia“‘Scrapping the cap’ sounds like an easy fix for Social Security. The economics tell a different story: less work, lower investment, and lost tax revenue elsewhere.” (11/12/26)
- The Enemy at Home
Source: The Chris Hedges Report
by Chris Hedges“The belief that Democrats will dismantle a system designed to serve the rapacious greed of the war machine and the ruling billionaire class is a mirage.” (11/12/26)
- The midterm warning signs for Democrats no one is talking about
Source: Fox News
by Luke Ball“Democrats have been deliriously giddy since the midterm elections. Their party, rudderless and defeated for two years, appeared to come roaring back into relevance with a House and Senate majority. The once-defunct political careers of establishment Democrats like Chuck Schumer roared back to life, as even traditionally safe Republican seats faced the wrath of a disgruntled electorate. But as Democrats celebrated their candidates’ wins in campaign offices across the country, dozens of conservative [sic] victories went largely unnoticed in the very same states Democrats claimed were now solidly blue. The Democrats’ victories were a backlash against broken Republican promises. They were not a mandate to usher in a vast liberal [sic] policy platform.” (11/12/26)
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/luke-ball-midterm-warning-signs-democrats-no-one-talking-about
- Asking an Unanswerable Question
Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Patrick Barron“The citizenry must understand that they cannot shirk their personal responsibilities to provide for themselves in all things apart from international relationships and military preparedness. Not only is providing for oneself and one’s family an ethical issue, it is impossible to transfer this responsibility to others.” (11/12/26)
- The JD Vance 2028 presidential dream isn’t dead — yet
Source: Washington Post
by Ramesh Ponnuru“Republicans are marinating in gloom following the midterm elections, and fair enough. They ought to spend time considering the course that led them to lose so spectacularly in Iowa, Ohio, Texas and Mississippi. But the pessimism about their party’s chances in 2028, which has some people suggesting that Vice President JD Vance write off the year and wait for a better one, is overdone. … Some elections are unwinnable. Democrats were never going to beat Ronald Reagan in 1984, no matter who they nominated or what the nominee said. Republicans had no chance of winning in 1996 or 2008, either. But it’s much too soon to say the Republican nomination isn’t worth having in 2028.” (11/12/26)
- The Family Annihilator Presidency
Source: Liberal Currents
by Samantha Hancox-Li“Donald Trump is not well. His hands are swollen and discolored. He brags about ‘acing’ a cognitive test that is used as an instrument to detect dementia. He appears to have suffered from a stroke which led to visible irregularities on his face. He regularly falls asleep during press conferences and shits himself on camera. Donald Trump is not well. But he still retains his power to terrorize his own closest supporters.” (11/12/26)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-family-annihilator-presidency/
- Eric Trump’s Humanoid Robots To Be Used In Gaza Genocide
Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone“The Financial Times has published a new article titled ‘Humanoid robot start-up backed by Eric Trump in talks with Israel’s military’ which is exactly as horrifying as its headline suggests. The article features photographs of bipedal armored robots which look like they came from the set of a post-apocalyptic Hollywood movie, and opens as follows: ‘A company backed by Eric Trump is in talks with the Israel Defense Forces to supply humanoid robots to patrol Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza and potentially engage in combat. Foundation Future Industries co-founder and president Mike LeBlanc said he had met senior Israeli military officials for preliminary discussions in September and toured tunnels with the US start-up’s Phantom MK1. ‘We’re in direct talks with the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces,’ the former US Marine told the FT, adding that his company was in discussions to supply up to 1,000 Phantoms.'” (11/12/26)
https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/11/12/eric-trumps-humanoid-robots-to-be-used-in-gaza-genocide/
- Diagnosis in Place of Reason and Feeling
Source: Brownstone Institute
by Sinead Murphy“At school, my son is studying King Lear. In a recent test, he came fifth best of twenty-two students. ‘What was the subject of the test?’ I asked him. ‘It is impossible to feel sorry for Lear in the first two scenes of Act One,’ he told me. ‘What did you write?’ I asked. ‘That it is not impossible to feel sorry for Lear. Because of Lear’s cognitive decline.’ Lear, victim of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the richest literary outputs of human history: swallowed by a diagnosis.” (11/12/26)
https://brownstone.org/articles/diagnosis-in-place-of-reason-and-feeling/
- A Soviet Handbook for Fighting Totalitarianism
Source: Law & Liberty
by Jacob Howland“When Vladimir Bukovsky’s memoir of his public struggle against Soviet tyranny appeared in 1978 in Michael Scammell’s energetic English translation, reviewers welcomed it as an exceptional book. Written with literary flair and suffused with quiet moral authority, it exposed, in excruciating detail, the demonic brutality of the psychiatric repression of political prisoners under Khrushchev and Brezhnev. To Build a Castle also vividly portrayed the misery of life on both sides of the barbed wire in a country ruled by fear, plagued by pervasive aggression, alcoholism, and nightmarish bureaucratic torments, and impoverished by universal corruption and an economically murderous ideology.” (11/12/26)
https://lawliberty.org/book-review/a-soviet-handbook-for-fighting-totalitarianism/
- The Unpardonable Malpractice of Pete Hegseth
Source: The Nation
by Michael T Klare“The offenses cited by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) in commencing impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—that he initiated and sustained the war with Iran without required congressional approval, conducted military operations in Yemen and the Caribbean without such approval, and eroded protections for civilians trapped in overseas war zones—are all valid and fully justify his removal from office in accordance with constitutional precepts. But however worthy, they fail to capture his essential, unpardonable offense: strategic malpractice when commanding troops in battle.” (11/12/26)
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/pete-hegseth-iran-war-military-strategic-failure/
- Say’s Law and the Riots in France
Source: Cobden Centre
by Patrick Barron“When French finances go deeply negative France cannot simply demand that the Bank of France print more francs out of thin air. The franc is gone and the Bank of France, which still exists, is an intermediate entity between French banks and the European Central Bank. The power to print more euros and buy French bonds is difficult because the other members of the European Union have power to oppose what they easily see as monetization of French debt that probably will not be repaid in euros of purchasing power as lent. If they accede to a new round of bond buying at all, the interest rate will be much, much higher.” (11/12/26)
https://www.cobdencentre.org/2026/11/says-law-and-the-riots-in-france/
- Did Walmart Use Market Power to Rig Battery Prices?
Source: Washington Monthly
by Jarod Facundo“Conventional wisdom holds that Walmart’s low prices reflect volume discounts and economies of scale used by the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer—America’s largest employer and largest grocery retailer by sales. But the PepsiCo suit, brought by the FTC under its then-Chair Lina Khan, presented evidence of the opposite of efficiency: PepsiCo’s painstaking micromanagement of prices to protect its most powerful buyer. For consumers, this raises the possibility that Walmart’s market power does not, at least in this case, discipline prices downward, but inflates them across the market. … But before the FTC suit regarding PepsiCo was filed in January 2025, private plaintiff antitrust suits against Walmart and battery maker Energizer had already been underway for two years. These cases, which have received scant media attention, provide another set of allegations that Walmart may be influencing its suppliers’ pricing decisions in ways that harm consumers.” (11/12/260
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/11/12/did-walmart-use-market-power-to-rig-battery-prices/
- But *why* do NHS wheelchairs take so long?
Source: Adam Smith Institute
by Tim Worstall“This sounds distinctly non-optimal: ‘Disabled people in England ‘have to wait up to two years for wheelchairs’’ … We do grasp that wheelchairs are more than simply four wheels and a chair these days. Also that there’s more than a little personal optimisation dependent upon the specific disability being catered to. But they’re not that complicated. … There is competition for the trade so where is the problem? Why is it that it can take up to two years? No, we don’t know either and it seems to us one of those things where we’d all like to know the answer. Our assumption is that the problem is with the monopoly, the NHS.” (11/12/26)
https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/but-why-do-nhs-wheelchairs-take-so-long
- Neocons, Neocons, Neocons!
Source: American Greatness
by Victor Davis Hanson“After the midterm wipeout, divisive blame-gaming erupted on the Right. One particularly bitter divide was over supposed ‘neocon’ interventionism and the Iran war. But who are—or were—the neocons, and what is neoconservatism? The word, clearly, means ‘new conservatives’. It was first used to characterize former liberals and Democrats in the 1970s who were turned off by their erstwhile party’s soft-on-crime domestic policies and especially by its cheery notion that we no longer needed to fear Soviet communism. They were even more appalled by Jimmy Carter’s paralytic reaction to Iran’s hostage-taking. In reaction, a number of public intellectuals and officials—such as Irving Kristol, Norman Podhoretz, James Q. Wilson, Bill Bennett, and Jeane Kirkpatrick—began supporting Ronald Reagan’s ‘we win, and they lose’ approach to the Cold War and the military buildup needed to restore deterrence.” [editor’s note: File under “historical revisionism” – TLK] (11/12/26)
- What France Doesn’t Understand About Free Speech
Source: The Atlantic
by Thomas Chatterton Williams“An assault on free speech is unfolding in France. On Tuesday, a judge placed Michel Houellebecq, one of the country’s most significant living writers, under investigation for his alleged ‘complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence,’ an accusation that stems from comments he made about Muslims several years ago. Houellebecq’s remarks were controversial and insensitive, but defending his freedom to speak does not require finding his words unobjectionable. … The fact that he now faces the possibility of criminal charges should concern anyone who professes to care about the free exchange of ideas.” (11/12/26)
- Never Rubio
Source: The Bulwark
by Mona Charen“You hear the hopeful sighs among certain Republicans looking to move past Donald Trump and seeing JD Vance mired in quicksand. Maybe Rubio could be the future? He has MAGA credibility but without the cutthroat affect of JD or DeSantis. He was confirmed 99–0 in the Senate. He’s Hispanic. He’s clearly not full MAGA. Forget it. I say this as someone who would dearly love to see the GOP turn away from Trump and MAGA. But Rubio is not the vehicle. He may not have personally bitten the heads off the chickens, but he enjoyed the meal. Let’s consider the ways in which he has permanently stained his character. And for the sake of space as well as mercy, let’s limit our scope just to Trump’s second term.” (11/12/26)
- Democrats not yet unified for first big post-election Iran war test
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Blaise Malley“Congressional Democrats will face the first test of their willingness to translate their electoral gains into action against the Iran war before the new Congress is seated in January. While almost all Democrats appear united in wanting to end the war, a question of how to do so — and, perhaps more importantly, when to do so — is looming. Some are urging the current Congress to target Dec. 11, when ongoing government spending authority runs out. Though Democrats will still be in the minority at that point, activists and a number of members argue that the midterm results give the party both the political capital and the leverage needed to act.” (11/12/26)
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/democrats-funding-iran-war/
- The 2028 campaign has begun, and it’s the most interesting in decades
Source: Los Angeles Times
by Jackie Calmes“It’s a longstanding truism of modern American politics: The next presidential race begins as soon as midterm elections end. That nonstop politicking has been an annoyance for many voters but also for political reporters like myself. Like, give us a break, literally. Not this time. In the wake of the 2026 midterm elections that scrambled the national political map and its hoary red- and blue-state boundaries, Americans of all persuasions should be excited by the potential of the 2028 presidential election — and not just for its promise of ushering out Donald Trump. The 2028 contest stands to be one of the most wide-open, eventful, wholly unpredictable and historic races in memory.” (11/12/26)
- Trump could hit Pickaxe Mountain, declare victory and end the war
Source: Asia Times
by Arash Beidollahkhani“By striking underground site, Trump could claim Iran’s nuclear threat is obliterated and end his unpopular military adventure.” (11/12/26)
https://asiatimes.com/2026/11/trump-could-hit-pickaxe-mountain-declare-victory-and-end-the-war/
- Humanitarian Orgs Demand Answers on Yemen War After Hegseth Impeachment Fails
Source: The Intercept
by Nick Turse“With Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth temporarily safe from impeachment, a dozen humanitarian groups are calling on Congress to investigate one of the eight shelved charges lodged against him: his role in the deaths of hundreds of people during the ‘unauthorized war in Yemen.’ … The push for accountability follows last week’s electoral rout of the GOP and immediate calls by top Democrats for scrutiny of war powers abuses by the Trump administration. But with Democrats taking the gavel in both chambers next year, a defense official told The Intercept that the Trump administration’s failed 2025 conflict in Yemen risks becoming a ‘forgotten war’ amid a push for accountability focused on higher profile conflicts.” (11/12/26)
https://theintercept.com/2026/11/12/pete-hegseth-yemen-war-civilian-harm/
- Trump vs. the ICC: The Law of the Strong or the Strength of the Law?
Source: Common Dreams
by Klaus Moegling“US President Trump is fighting the International Criminal Court, whose mission is to prosecute and convict high-ranking suspected criminals who have violated international law and human rights in The Hague. The US government under Trump is now imposing sanctions against the entire International Criminal Court as an institution. This represents yet another attack on global justice. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has 125 member states and, since 2002, has been prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide—including those committed by high-ranking officials. Like China, Israel, and Russia, the US is not a member of the ICC. However, a clear majority of countries worldwide (125 member states) do support it. The US government is now not only imposing sanctions on the ICC as an institution but has also previously taken action against members of the court. Thirteen judges and the chief prosecutor of the ICC have been placed on the U.S. sanctions list.” (11/12/26)
- The Rise and Fall of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Source: Antiwar.com
by Dan Steinbock“Defense Secretary Hegseth’s term is likely to be seen as one of the most disastrous ones in the Pentagon’s history. The lack of personal integrity and even basic executive experience compounds an aggressive, ideologically overdriven campaign that has triggered a chilling effect, tanked military approval ratings and alienated America’s allies, partners and adversaries alike.” (11/12/26)
- Rebels, Minerals, and Contractors: Trouble (and Opportunity) in the DRC
Source: Libertarian Institute
by Joseph Solis-Mullen“In mid-September 2026, former Green Beret Tim Kennedy was shot multiple times in the leg during an ambush in the Minembwe Highlands of South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was part of a small Vectus Global team, one of Blackwater founder Erik Prince’s private security companies, accompanying Congolese forces. The event prompted, for a moment, a degree of American media coverage of the Congo. To be sure, the coverage was as shallow as it was fleeting, mostly focused on Kennedy’s own story; but make no mistake, there is much more here than just a seemingly random firefight involving private contractors in some remote African hinterland.” (11/12/26)
- The Beginning of the End for the AI Bubble?
Source: CounterPunch
by Dean Baker“It may be too early to start the celebration, but some of the AI stocks took a big hit last week. But not all companies were hit equally. The biggest hits by far went to the neo-clouds, with several of the large chip makers also getting seriously whacked. The hyperscalers seemed little affected.” (11/12/26)
https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/11/12/the-beginning-of-the-end-for-the-ai-bubble/
- Prosecuting Michel Houellebecq will not make France safer, but it will be less free
Source: Expression
by Sarah McLaughlin“Most people probably don’t recall all of the things they said last week, let alone four years ago. But for widely-read French writer Michel Houellebecq, comments he made in a 2022 magazine interview may spell legal trouble for him today. Houellebecq is now formally facing a judge-led investigation in a Paris suburb for ‘complicity in incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence against a group of people on account of their origin or their belonging or not belonging to a particular ethnicity, nation, race or religion.’ … Should authorities pursue charges and find him guilty, Houellebecq could face large fines and up to a year in prison. Even if they ultimately drop the investigation, the message is clear to both Houellebecq and everyone else: If you speak your mind on a controversial issue in France, you might get wrapped up in a lengthy and chilling investigation. You might even end up in jail.” (11/12/26)
https://expression.fire.org/p/prosecuting-michel-houellebecq-will
- Adam Smith’s Hidden Parable
Source: Law & Liberty
by Daniel Klein“To resolve the paradox of the poor man’s son, we must extend the story to the next generation.” (11/12/26)
- Can Trump’s Weakness Be Europe’s Opportunity for Peace?
Source: The American Conservative
by Eldar Mamedov“ne consequence of last week’s midterm elections—which brought a historic rout of President Donald Trump’s Republican Party—has been the emboldening of European leaders who have spent much of his second presidency reluctantly appeasing him. This shift comes just as the Trump administration revives an ambitious effort to end the war in Ukraine. The question for Europeans now is whether to use Trump’s weakness to merely resist his diplomacy or to develop a diplomatic initiative of their own.” (11/12/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/can-trumps-weakness-be-europes-opportunity-for-peace/
- Trump and MAGA Are Still Making Up Election Conspiracy Theories
Source: Exiled Policy
by Jason Pye“On election night, Donald Trump called Fox News and congratulated Democrats. Six days later, he was shitposting on Truth Social, asking whether anyone believed the election was honest. He claimed that early vote ‘dumps’ were so large that Republicans couldn’t win no matter how many people showed up on Election Day. ‘It’s all about the machines,’ he wrote. He offered no evidence that machines changed votes or that any of those early ballots were fraudulent. Trump had spent months telling Republicans to treat the midterms as a vote on him. The country did.” (11/11/26)
https://exiledpolicy.substack.com/p/trump-and-maga-are-still-making-up
- Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 11/12/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“Trump Says US Doesn’t Need Iran Deal, Israel Bombing of Gaza Hospital Kills 6, and More.” (11/12/26)
- The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell, 11/12/26
Source: The Bulwark
“Trump’s DOJ Is Falling Apart as Top Officials Flee (w/ Andrew Weissmann).” (11/12/26)
- Nonzero, 11/12/26
Source: bloggingheads.tv
“Jensen Huang RESIGNS from Nvidia, RSI Coming in 2027 — with Robert Wright.” (11/12/26)
- Serious Trouble, 11/12/26
Source: Serious Trouble
“Trump’s election lawsuits fizzle; judges in Washington and Chicago demand DOJ explain its conduct; a lawsuit arguing the McRib is fraudulent (because it’s not ribs) survives a motion to dismiss.” (11/12/26)
- Half the Answer, episode 115
Source: Liberal Currents
“2026 Midterms Political Ad Roundup.” (11/12/26)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/2026-midterms-political-ad-roundup-half-the-answer-115/
- The Economics of It, 11/12/26
Source: Cato Institute
“The Economics of Rent Control.” (11/12/26)
https://www.cato.org/multimedia/economics-it/economics-rent-control
- Underthrow Podcast, 11/12/26
Source: Underthrow
‘We Have to Return to the Work of Doing Good.” (11/12/26)
- The Kyle Anzalone Show, 11/12/26
Source: Libertarian Institute
“Harrison Berger: Has Trump Turned on Israel?” (11/12/26)
- TAC Right Now, 11/12/26
Source: The American Conservative
“A Russian Insider Looks at Ukraine War, w/ Fyodor Lukyanov.” (11/12/26)
- The Headlines, 11/12/26
Source: New York Times
“A Second Affair Revelation Rocks Nvidia, and a Democrat Wins Mississippi in a Major Senate Upset.” (11/12/26)
- Year Zero with Tommy Salmons, 11/12/26
Source: Libertarian Institute
“Ordinary Men Chp 15 w/John Weeks.” (11/12/26)
https://libertarianinstitute.org/blog/ordinary-men-chp-15-w-john-weeks/
- Rising, 11/12/26
Source: The Hill
“Robby Soave gives his radar on tech CEOs like Alex Karp appearing to pivot to more liberal views after Democrats took control of Congress in the midterms.” (11/12/26)
- The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, 11/12/26
Source: The New Republic
“Trump’s Christian Allies Rattled After His On-Air Rage Takes Dark Turn.” (11/12/26)
https://newrepublic.com/article/217860/trump-christian-allies-rattled-on-air-rage-takes-dark-turn
- Advisory Opinions, 11/12/26
Source: The Dispatch
“First Amendment, Still Revolutionary.” (11/12/26)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/first-amendment-still-revolutionary/
- The Briefing Podcast with Michael Waldman, 11/12/26
Source: Brennan Center for Justice
“Lessons from a Watergate Baby.” (11/12/26)
- The Blessings of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen, 11/12/26
Source: The Blessings of Liberty with Jeffrey Rosen
“Are Publicly Funded Catholic Preschools Exempt from Antidiscrimination Laws?” (11/12/26)
https://rosenjeffrey.substack.com/p/are-publicly-funded-catholic-preschools
- Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, 11/12/26
- Pink Flame of Liberty, 11/12/26
Source: Pink Flame of Liberty
“Matt Walsh TORCHES Trump!” (11/12/26)
- LPA Two Hour Lunch Hour, 11/11/26
Source: LP Alliance
“Join us for our anything goes podcast every Wednesday at noon eastern!” (11/11/26)
- The Moynihan Report, 11/11/26
Source: The Moynihan Report
“Marilu Henner: Sex, Super Memory, More Sex, and the Real Andy Kaufman.” (11/11/26)
https://www.themoynihan.report/p/marilu-henner-sex-super-memory-more